5 teams that might hire Jay Gruden this offseason

This one seems a tad more likely than you’d think. No, Gruden is not going to replace his disciple Sean McVay as the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. That being said, the quarterback wunderkind from Atlanta hasn’t exactly set the NFL on fire with his offense since losing Super Bowl LIII in his hometown for the whole world to see.

McVay’s offense has become predictable, as he almost exclusively uses 11 personnel. All the window dressing he does pre-snap putting receivers and backs in motion doesn’t change the fact that quarterback Jared Goff can’t hear his head coach in his helmet when there are 15 seconds or fewer remaining on the play clock. In short, McVay is at a point of adjustment with the Rams.

By adding Gruden to the offensive coaching staff, it would help offset the departures the Rams suffered in recent offseasons with Zac Taylor going to the Cincinnati Bengals and Matt LaFleur going to the Green Bay Packers after spending a year calling plays for the Tennessee Titans. Gruden and McVay have worked wonderfully before, who’s to say they can’t make it work again?

What makes this potential landing spot better than the San Francisco 49ers is that it won’t be as awkward as it will in dealing with the Shanahans. It might also be a better potential long-term play for Gruden. He can stick on McVay’s staff, win a lot of games with the Rams and wait for his next head coaching opportunity when the right fit does come along for him. Plus, it’s Los Angeles.